SEO Expert Explains How to Tell Google About Site Relationships

SEO expert Mark Williams-Cook (@thetafferboy) recently explained the nofollow attribute and how to use it to inform Google about the relationship between a website and the page it is linking to. The nofollow attribute is an HTML tag that can be added to a link in order for search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo! to understand that the website does not necessarily endorse or vouch for the content of the page being linked. This is especially important when linking out to external sources, as it allows webmasters more control over what content their site is associated with. In his recent post on Twitter, Williams-Cook explains how adding this attribute can help protect your website from potential harm caused by links leading users away from your site. He states that “by using rel=”nofollow” you are telling search engines not to follow any of those links and not count them as part of your overall link profile”. He goes on to explain that this helps protect websites from being penalized by search engine algorithms if they link out too often or if they link out too much to low quality sites. Williams-Cook also notes that while nofollow attributes are useful for protecting websites from potential harm, they should not be used indiscriminately as they may negatively impact user experience. For example, if a website adds a nofollow tag on all its external links then users may become frustrated when clicking on them only to find out that nothing happens. Overall, understanding how the nofollow attribute works and when it should be used can help webmasters ensure their websites remain safe from potential harm while still providing users with an enjoyable experience. By taking these steps, webmasters can rest assured knowing their sites are well protected against any potential issues caused by linking out too often or too much.